Birth papers from the Netherlands

This book contains - in contemporary Dutch - the three most important and perhaps most revolutionary writings in Dutch history.

• The Union of Utrecht from 1579
• The Apology of William of Orange from 1581
• The Placard of Abandonment from 1581

They are introduced and explained by Coos Huijsen and Geerten Waling, who show why these texts are still relevant for the reader in the 21st century. The two historians argue, among other things, that the 'birth papers of the Netherlands' represent the revolutionary character of the Dutch struggle for independence. This remarkably early Dutch Revolution became a source of inspiration for the English, American and French Revolutions of 1688, 1776 and 1789 respectively.

'A huge information booklet' - De Telegraaf August 23, 2014

Martine Gosselink, head of history at the Rijksmuseum, discusses the book Birth Papers of the Netherlands and reads an excerpt. Watch the clip here .